Loading apparatus



June 24, 1930. F. GRAHEK Y 19768316 LOADING APPARATUS -Filed Feb. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS June 24, 1930. F. GRAHEK LOADING APPARATUS Lmsla 4 Smets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2l. 1929' INVENTOR. 2? (im/@ .ETNMIMNIA um@ n@ AIToRNEx/.S

June 24, 1930. F. GRAHEK LOADING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 3 Filed Feb. 21, 1929 INVENTOR. T @Pa eff. BY m l? ATTORNEYJ June 24, 1930, F AGRAL-EK v 1,768,316

LOADING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 2l, 1929 4 Sheets-Shet 4 v iz o 65 2Q m 66 32 33 a/ 54 37 5.94

5s' I. 07A 02 t I Q INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYJ Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES FRANK GRAHEK, OF ADAH, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK KUFRIN, OF ADAH, PENNSYLVANIA LOADING APPARATUS Application filed February 21, 1929. Serial No. 341,667.

rlihis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in loading apparatus or motor shovels and has for its primary object to provide a vehicle construction or operated shovel adapted to be moved under a pile of material and thereafter elevated into dumping position, the novel mechanism accomplishing this purpose comprising motor driven pinions meshing with rack bars.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loading apparatus or motor shovel comprising a vehicle construction having a top body rotatably mounted upon a base platform and utilizing the propulsion gear mechanism for the vehicle construction to effect rotary movement of the vehicle body upon the platform for laterally moving Vthe shovel into dumping position above a vehicle.

lVith the above and other objects in view, that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a loading apparatus or motor shovel constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, showingthe traction devices associated with one of the driving wheels of the vehicle construction;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of a part of the structure showing the steering mechanism and the removable steering post;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 3, showing the pinion and rack mechanism for advancing the shovel or scoop;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the operating gear mechanism; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing a part of the driving mechanism interposed between the prime mover and rear wheel.

The loading apparatus or motor shovel comprises a base platform 1 having depending frame members or chassis bars 2 and 3 at the front and rear ends thereof carrying axles upon which the front steering wheel 4 and rear driving wheel 5 are mounted. .A housing is rotatably supported upon the base platform l and includes side walls 6 and 7 and top and bottom walls 8 and 9 respectively. A lateral operators compartment 1() is carried by the forward end of the side wall 7 as clearly illustrated. As shown in Figure 8, a circular ballbearng race 11 is carried by the base platform 1 and upon which the housing is rotatable, the journal bearing for the housing comprising a part of the driving mechanism for the rear wheel 5 to be later described.

A forwardly declined guide 12 is carried by the inner face of each side wall 6 and 7 and in which guide a rack bar 13 is slidably mounted as shown in detail in Figure 6. The forward ends of the rack bars 13 are connected by a cross rod 13a on which is pivotally mounted the side arms 14 of a shovel or scoop 16, while the upper rear ends are connected by the cross rod 20. The side arms 14 are braced by the cross rod 15 intermediate their ends. A hinged closure gate 17 for the shovel is normally closed by the latch device 18 that is released by a pull rope 19. v

A forwardly declined guide 21 is carried by the top wall 8 of the housing and incloses a sliding rack bar 22, the guide 21 projecting forwardly of the front end of the housing as shown in Figure l. A link 23 attached at one end as at 24 to the forward end of the rack bar 22 has its other end pivotally connected at 25 to the cross rod 15 of the shovel arms 14 for purposes presently to appear.

A motor 26 has its driving shaft extended through the clutch housing 27 and into the casing 28, the shaft 29 extending through and being journaled in the rear wall 28a of the casing 28 with the terminal projecting end thereof socketed for the rotatable reception of a bearing end on the freely rotatable shaft 30, the shaft 29 forming a bearing for the adjacent end of the shaft 30 while the other end of the shaft 30 is journaled through the petition wall 31 of the casing. A pair of shafts 32 are journaled in the walls 28a and '31 of the casing 28 and each shaft 32 has a bevel gear 32a keyed thereon at corresponding ends adjacent the end of the shaft 29. A bevel gear 29a is fixed to the shaft 29 within the casing 28 and meshes with adjacent sides of opposed double bevel gears 33 j ournaled on'bearings 33, the opposite sides of which bevel gears 33 mesh with the bevel gear 32a in the shaft 32. An elongated sleeve 34 is freely rotatable on the shaft 30 and carries at one end a bevel gear 40 for purposes presently to appear, the sleeve 34 having a collar 34a splined thereon and carrying at its-end adjacent the bevel gear 40, a relatively large gear 35 and at its other end a small pinion 35a. The pinions 36 fixed to the shaft 32 mesh with the large gear 35 and the relatively large gear wheel 36a upon one of the shafts 32 is adapted to mesh with the pinions 35a upon the collar The shafts 32 are sectional and are operatively connected by clutches 37 having unitary operating levers 37a extending to the operators compartment 10. The gear 38 fixed to the end of the shaft 29 is adapted to be engaged by the internal gear 39 splined on the shaft 30 to effect a drive direct from the shaftr29 to the shaft 39.

vAs shownmore clearly in Figures 7 V4and 8,

vthe bottom wall 9 of the housing is provided with a bearing block 41 in which a vertical shaft v42 is journaled, the shaft 42 being positioned centrally of the turntable or ball race 1l with the lower end of the shaft extending into a gear box 43 depend- Y ing froml the base platform 1; The upper vmechanism of the rear axle.

end of the shaft 42 has bevel gear 44 fixed thereto that meshes with the bevel gear on the sleeve 34, the bevel gear 45 fixed to the lower journaled end of the shaft 42 meshing with the bevel` gear 46 in the gear box 43 that is fixed to the drive shaft 47 that extends rearwardly to the differential It will be observed from an inspection of Figure 3 that the housing is prevented from rotation upon the base platform l by locking keys or pins L' 48 securing the housing to the base platform against rotation. The gear mechanism now described is employed for the propulsion of the loading apparatus and also to effect rotation of the housing upon the base platform 1. Assuming that the housing is locked to the base platform by the keys 48, power from the motor shaft 29 is transmitted to the shafts 32' and from said shafts through the pinions 36, collar 34a and sleeve 34 to gear 40 and gear devices ruiming to the gear box 43, this mechanism driving the rear axle of the loading apparatus. When it is desired to rotate the housing upon the base platform 1, the locking keys 48 are re'- the scoop or shovel 16 over a conveyance or l the like positioned laterally of a pile of material. During translating movement of the loading apparatus, the housing is locked to the base platform 1 and being restrained from movement relative to said platform,

Vthe shaft 42 becomes operated for driving the rear axle supporting the rear vwheel 5.

The internal gear 39 splined on the shaft 30 is adapted to be moved into meshing enlgagement with the gear 38 on the power shaft 29, forks 49 engaged in angular grooves in the collar 34il land the pinion 39 being operated by the lever 50 for simultaneously disengaging the gear 35 from 'the pinions 36 and engaging the y gears 35a and 36a. With the gears disengaged as described, and the pinion 39 engaged with the ygear 38, the drive is direct from Vthe shaft 29 to the shaft 30. The shaft 30 is journaled through the walls of the compartment 51 and has Vfixed thereto a beveled gear 52 that meshes with bevel gears 53 upon the stub shafts 54 and 55 ournaled transversely of the loading apparatus in the adjacent side walls. of the compartment 51 and side walls 6 and 7 of the housing, the shafts 54 and 55 being formed of sections operatively connected together by reversing clutches 56 and 57 controlled by operating rods 58 extending to control levers 59 in the operators compartu ment 10 as shown in Figure 2. Thel shafts 54 and 55'extend outwardly of the side walls 6 and 7 of the housing and each 'projecting shaft end has a bevel gear 60 fixed thereto.

A shaft 61 is journaled transversely of the housing` in the side walls 6 and 7 about the inclined guides 12 and ,each shaft end has a gear wheel 62 fixed thereto and housed by the enlargement 63 ofthe housing of the guide 12 that meshes with the adjacent rack Vbar 13, one end of the shaft 61 projecting through the side wall 7 of the housing and having a bevel gear 64 fixed thereto while a shaft 65 has bevel gears 65 meshing with gears 60 and 64 to communicate rotary ino tion of the shaft 55 to theshaft 61.

A shaft 66 is journaled transversely of the nhousing in the side walls 6 and 7 below the rack bar 22 and has a gear wheel 67 fixed thereto that meshes with the rack bar 22.

One end 'of the shaft 66 projects through the side wall 6 of the housing and has a bevel gear 68 fixed thereto while a shaft 69 has bevel gears 69ameshing with the gears 60 and 68 to communicate rotary motion from the shaft 54 to the shaft 66. As above stated, the shaft 30 is operated when the pinion 39 is moved into engagement with the gear 38, rotation of the shaft 30 being communicated to the shafts 54 and 55 while the gear mechanism for operating the shafts 61 and 66 is controlled by the reversible clutches 56 and 57. Vith the parts so disposed, the reversible clutches 56 and 57 are operated to cause a forward projection of the scoop or shovel 16, the rack bars 13 and 22 both moving forwardly under control of such clutches. The rack bars 13 and 22 are moved proportionately so that the link 23 normally remains vertically disposed as shown in Figure 1. After the scoop or shovel 16 has been filled, the clutch 56 is reversely operated to retract the rack bar 22 to cause the forward side arms 14 pivoted to rack bars 13 to be moved or elevated upon their hinged connection with the rack bars for elevating the scoop or shovel, rearward movement of the rack bar 22 shifting the link 23 for raising the scoop 16. After the rack bar 22 has been fully retracted, and should it be desired to further elevate the scoop or. shovel 16, the rack bars 13 may be forwardly projected a further distance and during this movement, the connection 24 between the rack bar 22 and link 23 acts as a fulcrum permitting further pivotal 'movement of the shovel arms 14 on the connections with the rack bar 13. Vhen the rack bar 22 is fully retracted, the shovel arms 14 are elevated until the link 23 substantially occupies the horizontal position, and at this time, the cross rod 15 of the shovel arms engages the lower side of the guide 21 aiding in fulcruming the shovel arms. When the scoop or shovel 16 is fully elevated, the rope or cable 19 may be pulled to release the latch 18 and permit the rear hinged gate 17 of the scoop or shovel to open for dropping the contents of the shovel into a conveyance or the like.

The steering mechanism for the loading apparatus is shown in- Figure 5, the steering shaft 70 in the operators compartment 10 being removable and detachably connected with the gear and shaft trains 71 leading to the steering knuckle 72 for the front wheels 4. The steering shaft 70 is removable to permit the housing to rotate upon the base platform 1.

A novel arrangement of traction devices is associated with the rear wheel 5, and as shown in Figure 4, the disk 73 of the wheel 5 has a cam plate 74 flatly engaged therewith, having lateral bolts 75 projecting through arcuate slots 76 in the disk 73 to receive fastening nuts for holding the cam plates 74 rigid with the wheel disk. Spring pressed radial pins 76 carried by the wheel 5 and wheel disk 73 are adapted to be projected through openings 77 in the wheel rim by cam portions of thecam plates 74 when the same has been manually shifted, the traction pins or calks 76 aiding in the transportation of the loading apparatus over rough roads and under other conditions requiring the use of such devices.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believed that the construction and operation thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that when the gear mechanism is in the position shown in Figure 7, the power from the shaft 29 is delivered by the gears 29a, 33 and 32:L to the shaft 32, operation of the pinions 36 upon the shaft 32 being controlled by the clutches 37. WThen it is desired to rotate the housing upon the base platform, the locking keys 48 are removed and the pinions 36 rendered operative by the clutches 37 causes rotation of the collar 34a by the gear 35 and the collar 34aA being splined to the sleeve 34, the latter rotates the bevel gear 40 which moves planetarily around the bevel gear 44 of the differential drive mechanism. When it is desired to transport the loading apparatus fro-m one place to another, the i Vcollar 342L is slid upon the sleeve 34 to disengage the gear 35 from the pinion 36 and to bring the pinion 35a upon the collar 34a into engagement with the gear 36a on one of the shafts 32. named shaft 32 is then communicated to the differential drive mechanism, it being understood that the locking keys are restored to position for anchoring the housing structure to the base platform and the ratio of the gears 36d and 35a causes increased speed during movement. During current rotation of the loading apparatus, the clutches 37 are in free or neutral position to render the pinions 36 inoperative,

while the shaft 30 remains inoperative as the sleeve 34 is freely rotatable thereon. When the internal gear 39 is moved into engagement with the gear 38 upon the power shaft 39, the drive is directl from the shaft 27 to the shaft 3() and meshing gears 52 and 53, the two shafts 54 and 55 are associated with the latter set of gears being reversibly clutch controlled as at 56 and 57.

Minor changes in details of construction may be made, such as will fall within the scope of the claims, it being noted that an upper bracing frame structure 78 is carried by the upper side of the housing for supporting the forwardly projecting end of the rack bar guide 21.

I claim 1. In a loading apparatus or moto-r shovel, a base platform supported on ground wheels,

a housing mounted on the platform, a prime Rotary motion of the last mover, gear boxV Aand power transmitting 4mechanism in the housing, said power transoted, a separate sliding rack bar carrying a link support for the shovel, means for reciprocating thev rack bars to forwardly .project the shovel, and said means operating to retract the rack bar having the link connection with the shovel fo-r swinging the shovel upwardly into dumping position.

2. In a` loading apparatus or motor shovel, a base platformsupported on ground wheels,

.a housingY mounted on the platform, a prime mover, .gear box and power transmitting mechanism in the housing, said power transmitting mechanism including a'shaft adapted to be connected to the prime mover, gearing operated by the prime mover and including a train and an associated rear differential drive, a shovel, rack bars slidable in the housing to which the shovel is pivoted, a separate sliding rack bar carrying a link support for the shovel, means fo-r reciprocating the `rack bars to forwardly project the shovel, and said means operating to retract the rack bar having `the link connection with the shovel for swinging thc shovel upwardly into dumping position.

3. In a loading apparatus or motor shovel, a base platform supported 'on ground wheels, a housing mounted on-the platform, a prime mover, gear boX and powery transmitting mechanism in the housing, said'power trans- `mitting mechanism includinga shaft adapted to be connected to the prime mover, gearing operated -by the prime mover, and

including a train and an associated rear differential drive, a shovel, rack bars slidable in the housing to which the shovel is pivoted, a separate sliding rack bar carrying a link support for the shovel, means for reciprocating the rack bars to forwardly pro ject the shovel, and said means operating to `:retract the rack bar having the link connection with the shovel for swinging the shovel upwardly into dumping position.

4f. In a loading apparatus or motor shovel, a base platform supported on ground wheels, a housing mounted on the platform, a prime mover, gear box and power transmitting mechanism in the housing, said rpower transmitting mechanism including Va shaft adapted to be connected to the prime mover, gearing operated by the prime mover and-including a train and an associated rear differential drive, a shovel, rack bars slidable in the housing to which the shovel is pivoted, a separate sliding rack bar carrying a link support for the shovel, means for reciprocating the rack bars to forwardly shovel upwardly into dumping position, the

rack bar reciprocating -means comprising cross shafts journalled in the housing, pinions on the cross shafts meshing with thek rack zbars, a pair of driven shafts in the gear train operatively connected to the cross shafts, and an independently operated reversing clutch for each driven shaft for reversing rotation of the cross shafts to effect reciprocation of the rack bars.

5. In a loading apparatus for motor shovel, a baserplatform supported on ground i wheels, a housing mounted on the platform,

a prime Amover, gear boX and power trans- 1 vmitting mechanismV in the housing, said power transmitting mechanism including a shaft adapted to be connected to the prime mover, gearing operated by the prime mover and including a train and an associated-rear differential drive, a shaft of thegear train forming a journal bearing for the rotatable housing, a shovel, rack bars slidable in the housing to :which the shovel is pivoted, a separate sliding rack bar carrying a link support for the shovel, means for reciprocat- -ing the rack bars to forwardly project the shovel, said means operating to retract the rack bar having the link connection with the shovel for swinging the shovel upwardly into dumping position, the rack bar reciprocating means comprising cross shafts Yjournalled in the housing, pinions on the ycross shafts meshing with lthe rack bars, a

pair of driven shafts in the gear train operatively connected to the cross shafts, and an independently operated reversing clutch yfor each .driven shaft for reversing rotation-of the cross shafts to effect reciprocation of therack bars.

6. In a loading apparatus or motor shovel, `a base platform supported on ground wheels, a housing mounted on the platform, a prime mover, gear boX and power transmitting mechanism' in the housing, said power transmitting mechanism including a shaft adapted lto be connected to the prime mover, gearing operated by the prime mover, and including a train and an associated rear differential drive, a shovel, rack bars slidabl'e in the housing tok which the shovel is pivoted, a separate sliding rack vbar carrying a link support for the shovel,

.means for reciprocating the rack bars to forwardly project the shovel, said means operating to retract the rack bar Yhaving the link connection with the shovel for swinging the shovel upwardly into dumping position, the rack bar reciprocating means comprising cross shafts journalled in the housing, pinions on the cross shafts meshing with the rack bars, a pair of driven yshafts in the gear train operatively Vconfino :iso

,- rack bars.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.

FRANK GRAHEK. 

